Abstract

Many ketones containing an α-methylene group can be converted to α-diketone radical anions in dimethyl sulfoxide solution. The resulting radical anions can usually be unambiguously identified by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and the structure of the starting ketone may be deduced, often without reference to model compounds. The technique is also applicable to α-diketones, α-bromoketones, and α-hydroxyketones.